Deputies: Employee bought A/C units through company, sold them and pocketed cash

Published: Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12:32 p.m.

Sheriff's officials on Thursday charged a former employee of an air conditioning business with grand theft and dealing in stolen property.

In total, officials believe, the business lost $103,760.76.

The owner of Sun Kool Air Conditioning told deputies last month that he had found out one of his employees, William Robert Benson, 49, had been stealing money from the company.

The owner said his investigation revealed that for the past 2½ years, Benson allegedly ordered A/C units through the company and then sold them to customers and employees on the side. Benson reportedly pocketed the cash received from the transactions.

An audit was conducted, and company officials found more than 50 falsified purchase orders, which showed 58 units ordered for construction jobs instead went to others.

Employees interviewed said they would ask Benson for a price on an air conditioner and he would order the unit. They said they would give Benson cash for the units.

Benson told detectives the scam began around November 2010. He said employees would approach him and request an A/C for a family member or friend. He would give them a price, then create a false purchase order. After receiving the money from the employee for the unit, he would keep it.

Benson estimates he stole approximately $54,000 in A/C unit and equipment sales. He said he stole $1,500 in sales of scrap metal from the business.

Records obtained from the business by authorities show the company lost $97,375.76 in air conditioning sales and equipment over the past two years. Those records also indicate Benson received $8,685 for scrap sales between October and the end of December 2012. Of that amount, he reportedly gave the company $2,300.

A woman who answered the phone at the business Friday said Benson was no longer an employee of the company.

<p>Sheriff's officials on Thursday charged a former employee of an air conditioning business with grand theft and dealing in stolen property.</p><p>In total, officials believe, the business lost $103,760.76.</p><p>The owner of Sun Kool Air Conditioning told deputies last month that he had found out one of his employees, William Robert Benson, 49, had been stealing money from the company.</p><p>The owner said his investigation revealed that for the past 2½ years, Benson allegedly ordered A/C units through the company and then sold them to customers and employees on the side. Benson reportedly pocketed the cash received from the transactions.</p><p>An audit was conducted, and company officials found more than 50 falsified purchase orders, which showed 58 units ordered for construction jobs instead went to others.</p><p>Employees interviewed said they would ask Benson for a price on an air conditioner and he would order the unit. They said they would give Benson cash for the units.</p><p>Benson told detectives the scam began around November 2010. He said employees would approach him and request an A/C for a family member or friend. He would give them a price, then create a false purchase order. After receiving the money from the employee for the unit, he would keep it.</p><p>Benson estimates he stole approximately $54,000 in A/C unit and equipment sales. He said he stole $1,500 in sales of scrap metal from the business.</p><p>Records obtained from the business by authorities show the company lost $97,375.76 in air conditioning sales and equipment over the past two years. Those records also indicate Benson received $8,685 for scrap sales between October and the end of December 2012. Of that amount, he reportedly gave the company $2,300.</p><p>A woman who answered the phone at the business Friday said Benson was no longer an employee of the company.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>